How do I place my LR?

[heba]

Hi all.

Im brand new to this hobby, so sorry for any wrong names and too simple questions.

Ive just bought a 45 gallons 40 inches long, 10 high and deep aprox tank (I live in Europe/Denmark so here its 180 liters).
In the last 14 days Ive read quite alot in different forums and looked at tons of pictures.
At this moment Im just about to put saltwater in the tank and buying LR.
Ive looked at this forums fantastic pictures of god made/designed tanks (must be) and Ive been creating a headache over how I should design my own.
When looking at pictures they are generally in two categories from my point of view.
Brand new tanks with bare LR with nothing in/on or super fantastic pictures who makes me drewl like a chewing Bulldog with a peanut in its mouth.

Thats defines my problem: I cant find any thread with the start pictures of the "basic" design and then the result when its grown up and nice.

I would like to keep alot of soft corrals and keep it colorfull and one species fish (atm im considering Percula Clownfishes). I would like not to strss the enviroment in the tank too much but still keep it with multiple colors.

I dont know if I should make a "mountain" in center of tank with steep hills or I should make terraces/plateaus to place the corals.
Maybe also make to "mountains in each backcorners and keep the middle free with sand for corals.

Does anyone have pictures of the tank when it was new, so I can see the rough layout and when it is up and running and looks like the saltwater garden from Eden?
Anything less than Eden is also fully acceptable

Best wishes
Henrik

[Collinrb]

I have recently set up a 55. And I had the same problem you were having. I decided on keeping a low profile with a lot of water space for SPS growth. I tried to glue the least amount of pieces together as I could. That lets me move stuff around, which I do constantly. That was a month and a half ago when I first set it up. When I get home today I'll get you a current one so you can see what I've moved around

[Denbf58]

To Reef Central who you lay out your rock is up to you it is what you like some place it all the back against the glass i have mine in the middle. start stacking and see what you like. make sure it is stable so sails and such will not topple pieces over reef epoxy can be used

[heba]

Hi Collinrb

I will look forward to your post to compare the pictures.
I am wondering about that glue thing ... Do you glue things together as dry or cant it be used it the tank with water?

[Collinrb]

I was told at the LFS I could get the gel super glue, stick it in the freezer, and then glued pieces together out of the water and stuck them in. It dries very quickly apparently when frozen. I have no way to verify the validity of this method but it worked for me.

[heba]

#5

Did it work on wet rocks?
If it did that would be great, then I can try several buildups and then decide for one and then glue the pieces together.

[Collinrb]

I did that exactly. Tried a couple different builds then pulled rocks out that I felt could topple. I did however dab the spots I wanted to stick with a paper towel. I think it can be wet but I wouldnt want any extra water in between.

[heba]

#7
Ofc you are right.
Didnt think of papertowels

[Collinrb]

Just remember you're gonna stir up sand while you do this. So take it slow

[heba]

#9

I was given the advice that put in the LR first and then the sand to support the rock.
But ... I have also been given the advice that put in so little sand as possible (so you nearly can see the glass-bottom), because then I have more room for LR and water (better chemistry) that way.
Am I wrong?

[mess7777]

The reasoning to put in the rock first and then sand is so that your rocks don't settle into the sand and potentially topple due to the movement. Others have said that putting into sand makes it more stable.....guess it depends on opinion!

I would recommend that you try and have some higher stacks, levels, shelving, holes, etc. It will make everything more interesting once you have corals and fish. Don't be shy with epoxy and/or plastic ties to make it look how you want.

[rogergolf66]

Originally Posted by heba

#9

I was given the advice that put in the LR first and then the sand to support the rock.
But ... I have also been given the advice that put in so little sand as possible (so you nearly can see the glass-bottom), because then I have more room for LR and water (better chemistry) that way.
Am I wrong?

Lots of different opinions on sand. That's a different topic all together. There r aguments for just about every deepth of sand from no sand at all to 8in of sand. U need to go some reading on that and make ur own opinion on that one. I have used personally a cc sand bed. 2in of sand 6 in of sand and now I am tring no sand. Personally I liked the 6 in sand bed the most so far. I had the best chemistry with 6in of sand

Roger

[heba]

#11
Im really looking forward to buying the stones and trying to put them up.
I can see there maybe will be a problem with the small 8 inches its deep (I wrongly said it was 10 inches at the start) in making more than 2 levels and then the sand.
But I will defently try making some holes and some variation in height, but I dont think i will get over 60 % of the total height so i can put some nice corals on top.

#12
I can see what you mean.
Isnt the 6 inches is also quite much and the start for a sandfilter?
If I just put so little sand in as possible to a start, what will happen if I want to put more is, lets say to 1/2 to 1 inch?

[heba]

BTW: Before you started putting in the LR was the tank 100% full or 50%?
I ask this because I want to test the different pumps of the tank and also place/test the cirkulation pumps because the tank is brand new and I cant do that unless the tank is full.